Dear Asbury Friends,
Our popular "The Gospel on Broadway" series continues this weekend with the musical, "Violet." I would be surprised if anybody has seen or even heard of this musical, so I provided some summary information and a link to a video you can watch to learn more about it.
I learned about this musical from some of our Asbury singers. When they shared with me some of the music in the story, I knew that it would be perfect to use for this series, especially on the weekend closest to Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
I look forward to sharing this story, this powerful music, and a vision rooted in faith where all of God's people are respected and valued. I believe it will help all of us to "practice what we preach..."
Blessings,
Rev. Gayla Rapp,
Senior Pastor
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Violet is a musical with music by Jeanine Tesori and libretto by Brian Crawley based on the short story "The Ugliest Pilgrim" by Doris Betts. It tells the story of a young disfigured woman who embarks on a journey by bus from her farm in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, all the way to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in order to be healed. The musical premiered Off-Broadway in 1997 and won the Drama Critics' Circle Award and Lucille Lortel Award as Best Musical.
If you want to learn more about this musical, watch this five-minute-long YouTube video:
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Just a reminder that all church leaders are invited to attend our Saturday, January 25 leadership retreat. We will begin with breakfast at 8:30, and then meet from 9 to 11 am in Hager Hall.
We will spend some time talking about our vision and goals for this coming year. We will also have time to talk about how to publicize information about your committee or group, filling out vouchers, and ways we might connect to enhance each of our ministries. This meeting is open to anyone who would like to attend and learn more about Asbury's ministry. Please RSVP to Phyllis Williams at [email protected] if you want to come! We look forward to seeing you there.
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Click the link below to watch a video and read a statement from our Bishop, Ruben Saenz Jr., offering his thoughts about the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation document.
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Prayer Shawls Group | 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month f
rom 1:45-3:00 pm in the Welcome Center
 We would like to invite anyone who likes to knit and crochet to come join our Prayer Shawls Group! We meet from 1:45-3:00 pm on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month. We'll make prayer shawls, baby caps, and also share our own personal projects with each other. Mostly, this is a time for fellowship for people who like to knit and crochet! We'd love to have you join us. Please contact Gloria Inbody at 913.642.5431 if you have any questions.
Centering Prayer / Meditation Starts Again in January | 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month
at 4 pm in the Parlor
 Centering prayer/Christian meditation group resumes on the second and fourth Sundays at 4 pm in the Parlor; this month January 12 and 26. Centering prayer is a form of meditation intended to bring the practitioner closer to God. The group is open to everyone, whether you attended the fall workshop, practice regularly, or are a beginner. Instruction will be given as needed. Any questions? Please contact Kim Peck at
[email protected].
Help Make Mats for the Homeless | 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month
from 9:30-11:30 am in the 3rd floor Adult Classroom
 All are welcome to help us make mats for the homeless out of plastic grocery bags! We are meeting the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month from 9:30-11:30 am in the 3rd floor Adult Classroom. If you have any questions, please
contact Lynn Bain at 913.980.0679. Thanks so much!
Church Leadership Meeting | Saturday, January 25 from 8:30 am-11:00 am in Hager Hall
 Anyone who is part of a 2020 Asbury committee or team is invited to attend our 2020 Leadership Meeting held on Saturday, January 25 in Hager Hall from 8:30 am to 11:00 am. We will begin this meeting with breakfast, and then go on to learn about church structure, dates and times for 2020 events, and meet other members of Asbury teams. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to the church office. We hope you will be able to join us!
Valentine Fest | Saturday, February 1 from 9:30-11:30 am in Hager Hall
 Bring your kids, grand-kids, friends, and neighbors to our Valentine Fest on Saturday, February 1 from 9:30-11:30 am in Hager Hall.
ALL are invited to take this opportunity to share your love with others as we gather to create Valentine cards for members of the Asbury family who are hospitalized or homebound and for persons currently staying in local VA hospitals. All supplies and treats will be provided by Asbury UMW. For more information, contact Dorris Kissee at 913.744.5266.
Asbury's IHN Host Week is Just Around the Corner!
We will have our first opportunity of this bright New Year to host situationally homeless families and single women beginning on Sunday, February 9. We hope that you will volunteer to share your gracious hospitality with them. Visit the table in the Welcome Center on Sunday for sign-ups: set-up/take-down/laundry; food; shifts (5-7, 7-9, overnight). Questions? Contact Donetta Shaner at
[email protected]
or 913.897.2488.
Donate Altar Flowers | 2020 Calendar Now Open
Would you like to donate altar flowers in celebration or honor of a loved one? Celebrate a birthday or an anniversary? We would love to honor your loved one in our weekly bulletin. We have a standing flower order with Village Flower Company, and the cost is $50 to provide flowers for the altar. Please call the church office at 913.432.5573 or email Phyllis Williams at
[email protected]
if you are interested in signing up!
 <--- Click on the
Church Calendar logo for upcoming Asbury events! Do you have an event you would like to be listed on the calendar? Please call the church office or email Phyllis Williams at
[email protected]. For inclusions in the e-Alive or weekly bulletins, please contact Sharlynn Verner at
[email protected].
Did you know you could make an offering to Asbury electronically? You can use your credit or debit card at
easyTithe.com/visitasbury, or download the app on your smartphone.
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A note from Rev. Hollie Tapley, Disaster Response Coordinator
for the Great Plains United Methodist Conference
 MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Great Plains and UMCOR Disaster Response Academy
August 19-21, 2020
Location: TBA
Purpose: Disaster Response is a way to transform the world for Jesus Christ! Central to the goal of this academy is our desire to grow and enhance the ministry of disaster response to transform our communities, state, nation, and world for Jesus Christ.
Goal: To enhance disaster response ministries in the Great Plains Conference. Participants will dive deep into the areas that frame all disaster ministries while affirming and empowering how our conference prepares for, responds to, and recovers from disasters.
Who: The academy is for anyone - clergy and laity! It is for those already involved in our disaster response ministry and for those who are ready to live out their Biblical calling to serve. It is for Long Term Recovery Groups who are established or wish to establish one. It is for Emergency Managers to learn how we rock and roll.
Tracks:
- Local Church - introduces disaster readiness and response as a mission of your church. Churches will be given the opportunity to explore their capacity for various disaster response ministries and how to engage with community partners, as they participate in the Connecting Neighbors Training.
- Early Response Teams - current, active, badged ERT's will dive deeper into 200 Level Trainings consisting of: Disaster Site Evaluation, Disaster Site Management, Clean Homes after Flooding, and How to be a Team Leader.
- Long Term Recovery - LTRG's and EM's: learn how to transition from relief phase to recovery phase. What must be in place for recovery to happen? Functions of Disaster Case Management, Construction Manager, Volunteer Manager and their relationship to the LTRG.
- Everyone Attending - will take part in the Foundations for Disaster Ministry session and the session on the Ministry of Caring.
- Emergency Managers - a session introducing what the Great Plains Disaster Ministry is all about and how we are here for you!
I am extremely excited that this opportunity is going to happen in our conference. Watch for more details as plans develop.
Responding together,
Rev. Hollie Tapley
Disaster Response Coordinator
Great Plains United Methodist Conference
1207 SW Executive Drive
Topeka, KS 66615
Office: 785.272.9111
Direct: 785.414.4227
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Children's Sunday School - Sundays @ 10 am
Elementary in the Children's Wing
 All PreK through 5th graders are invited to the Children's Wing (3rd floor east) to learn about Loving God and Loving Neighbor. We'll sing and dance, watch a video, play games, and more!
Kids' Hour - A year-long adventure in loving God and loving neighbor in and through community.
o This week:
Jesus Calls Levi (Luke 5:27-32)
o Next week: Jesus Sends the Disciples (Mark 6:7-13)
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Youth (6th-12th grade)
There are only four spots available on the High School Mission Trip to Chicago from May 31-June 5. All current 8th-12th grade students are invited to register. Invite your friends! Contact Heather at [email protected] for more information. Deadline to register is Thursday, January 23, 2020.
 Registration for the Middle School Mission Trip to Omaha/Nebraska from June 14-18 is open. All current 5th-7th grade students are invited to register. Invite your friends! Contact Heather at [email protected] for more information.
Youth Sunday School: 10-10:50 am, 3rd floor West Wing
Middle School Sunday School: Connecting Faith and Justice - led by Pam Ottaway in Room 353
High School Sunday School: led by Lori Wilkerson in the Youth Lounge
 Youth Group - Sunday @ 6 pm in the Youth Lounge
Our youth series for January and February connects faith and justice with pop culture. We'll look at Marvel's Avengers franchise to find connections with the character bios and their mission and our identities and the ways we are called to put our faith into action in the world. We'll spend time discussing some of the dilemmas the characters encounter and relate them to the dilemmas we face in our own lives. We will dive into the movies, scripture, and both the 2017-2020 Social Principles and the proposed 2020 Social Principles of the United Methodist Church.
Youth Activities
If you are not receiving the children's ministry or youth ministry emails and would like to, please email [email protected] to get on the list.
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SHOPPING ON AMAZON?
2. Search "Asbury Methodist Church"
3. Select the Prairie Village location...and SHOP!
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